Dynamic footstool device

ABSTRACT

A footstool is described which allows to exercise feet, legs and ankles even while being in a seated position.

CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION

This is a 371 of PCT/EP04/00060 filed Jan. 8, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following invention relates to the field of physical wellnessproducts, in particular for the exercising of the lower extremities andjoints (feet, legs, ankles and knees).

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that remaining seated for long period of time, as required,for example, by office work, often causes problems to the lowerextremities that present with a tingling sensation and in subjects thatare prone, with aches and pains in the leg and calf, ankle swelling andother similar disorders.

In order to prevent such bothersome inconveniences, or to combat theireffects, the only solution is to interrupt the seated activity andexercise a little In order to recover the normal activity of theinterested limbs.

The advantage that can be obtained from a simple device that makes itpossible to perform these activities from a seated position thusavoiding the abovementioned inconveniences without interrupting activityis, however, evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device, hereinafter referred to as “dynamicfootstool” that makes it possible to keep the lower extremities andjoints in movement, by means of mobile footrests fitted around asupport.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prospective view of a device according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 shows a particular embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the dynamic footstool according to theinvention consists of a base 10 where two footrests 11 are integrallyjoined thereto by means of joints 12.

The base 10 is a structure having any shape that allows it to restfirmly on the ground, such as an “H” shape.

If preferred, said base may be fitted with adjustable feet on thesurface in contact with the ground that make it possible to raise orlower the base as necessary or alternatively with non-slip rubber pads.

The joints 12 are such as to ensure free rotation of the footrests 11 ona plane parallel to the plane containing the base 10 and,simultaneously, their inclination In relation to said plane, in allspatial directions. Said joints should preferably be ball-and-socketjoints, but they may be replaced by other equivalent mechanicalsolutions (springs, articulated joints etc.). Said joints must howeverhave a suitable size to ensure that the footrests 11 may tilt in thevarious directions without touching the base 10 or the ground andpreferably they will be attached to the barycentre of the footrests 11.

The footrests 11 must be such as to allow for a comfortable resting offeet with shoes and can have a range of shapes in order to allow, forexample, comfortable resting of high-heeled shoes (such as those in thecase of women's footwear); moreover, on their upper surface a layer of anon-slip material may be provided. According to a particular embodimentof this invention, said footrests are circular in shape.

According to a further particular embodiment of the invention, thefootrests 11 consist of a solid body suitable for resting feet, which ishollow inside and in the cavity thereof a mobile mass that accentuatesarid accompanies the movement of the footrests themselves is provided.

If preferred, in this case the footrest 11 may have a bowl-shape, asshown in FIG. 3.

Said mobile mass may be, for example a liquid (such as water, viscousliquid, oil, etc.) or it may consist of a collection of small particles(small metal or marble spheres, etc., sand, plaster, etc.) or anadmixture of both the abovementioned solutions.

Very viscous oils are particularly preferred for composing theabovementioned mobile mass.

If preferred, the device according to the invention can present a singlefootrest 11, hinged to the base 10 by a joint 12 analogously to whatdescribed above, having such dimensions as to consent the resting of oneor both feet.

The device according to the invention can be manufactured using anymaterial suitable to the purpose, the materials which allow to limit theweight of the devices without compromising its solidity (such asplastic, aluminium, etc.) will be obviously preferred.

The use of the device according to the invention is intuitive.

The user rests his/her feet on the rests 11 whilst continuing theactivity performed in a seated position.

Even without paying voluntary attention, due to the simple composedeffect of the intrinsic instability of the rests on the joints and smallmovements, which are also performed whilst seated, the feet will becaused to move in the various directions allowed by the joints 12 andtherefore the joints and the legs will be always gently moved, thus notonly preventing the aforementioned bothersome disorders, but alsostimulating circulation in the lower limbs and therefore substantiallycontributing to their tone and, consequentially, to the user's overallwell-being.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A footstool device adapted to rest upon asupport surface, the device comprising at least one footrest, one baseto which said at least one footrest is firmly attached by means of ajoint capable of allowing said at least one footrest to rotate freely ona horizontal plane parallel to a plane containing the base and to assumeinclinations, in relation to said plane containing the base, in allspatial directions, wherein said at least one footrest comprises a solidbowl shaped body comprising a substantially planar top surface, amulti-curved bottom surface and an internal cavity containing a mobilemass that is movable throughout the entire cavity, having said jointlocated in a position which is coincident with or higher than thebarycenter of said foot rests.
 2. A footstool according to claim 1wherein said joint is a ball and socket joint.
 3. A footstool accordingto claim 1 wherein said joints is sized in such a way so as to allow thefootrest to tilt in all spatial directions without the footrest touchingthe base or the support surface.
 4. A footstool according to claim 3wherein said at least one footrest has a circular shape.
 5. A Footstoolaccording to claim 1 wherein said mobile mass is a liquid.
 6. AFootstool according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said atleast one footrest comprises a layer of non-slip material.
 7. AFootstool according to claim 1 wherein said base comprises eitheradjustable feet that allow the base to be raised or lowered as required,or non-slip rubber pads.
 8. The footstool device according to claim 1,wherein said joint has a suitable size so that said footrest moves inall spatial directions without touching the base or the ground.